Local author Toby Tate describes his new science fiction trilogy as a cross between a Clive Cussler thriller and a Stephen King horror suspense novel.

The Lilitu Trilogy is "adventurous yet terrifying," said Tate.

The trilogy, published by Permuted Press and distributed by Simon and Schuster, will be released Sept. 26 and available at local bookstores, major bookstore chains and online retailers. Tate plans to be at Page after Page on Water Street on Oct. 6 for a book release party from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

His work received endorsements from New York Times bestselling authors Jonathan Maberry, Steve Berry and Douglas Preston, who called the book “an exceptionally well-crafted sci-fi supernatural thriller.”

Tate said the trilogy started out as a sequel to his second book Lilith and ended up as three books.

"I think what people will find most interesting is the fact that the trilogy pits ancient mythology against modern technology, creating a sci-fi action adventure/thriller hybrid," Tate said in an email.

One of the trilogy's standout characters is a CIA operative named Gabrielle “Gabe” Lincoln.

"She’s every bit a woman, highly intelligent, beautiful, empathetic, but as lethal as any man," Tate described. "She sports a red dragon tattoo on one arm (which she got during one drunken night in Hong Kong) and carries a huge knife called a 'zombie war sword,' which is an actual thing."

Tate said all his books are character-driven.

"Experiencing the story through the eyes of the characters is what really draws me in, and that’s the way I write, he said.

Tate has written eight other books that were published by several different companies. For more information, go to his website at www.tobytatestories.com or find him on Facebook and Twitter.